The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-09
PROTECTION ron FARMERS.

PROTECTION FOR FARMERS.
synopsis es ~ Address Dslivsrea By
Thomas II. Dudley, Of New jersey. Re.
fore the Fsrmsrs' Congress. Recently IN
Session In Chicago
In 1880 our population was 50. Co.,
900, Of whom only 1882. O99 earned
wages or lived by work. Of the latter,
there were 1850. 1913 engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits The present popu-
lation Of the United States Is GO. 600, ;
900 II the same ratio IS to employ
ment holds good, there are now over
20. 00Q 600 people who earn wages or
live by work. This number includes
about 1900. 600 engaged in agriculture.
No other industry gives employment to
SO many people, and while the product
If agriculture does not equal in value
the product of manufacture, the agri-
cultural industry is to some extent the
foundation of all other industries No
other can exist without it. The farmer
feeds all the people. Agriculture
should therefore be protected. and no
country in the world stands more in
need of it than the United States. 1t
should be protected in what it pro-
duces, and protected in the market in
which it sells its surplus product. If
the farmer can not sell. there is no in
centive to produce more than enough
for his own wants. If he have no sur
plus or can not sell, he can not buy the
necessaries of life.
The present tariff directly protects
the farmer. 1t is all right as far as it
goes. but it does not 60 far enough.
The duty imposed should be enough to
keep out all foreign competition.
During the year ending June so.
1886. the United States imported over
$3.50, 100000 worth of food and live
animals. and during the next fiscal
year over $2l3. 100000 worth. India
wheat can be laid down in London at
20 cents per bpshel. and in New York
at IS cents. without duty. With the
duty added. it can be put down here
Mt 95 cents. and with the increased
railway facilities being introduced
in India. before five years the India
farmer will be able to place it in New
York ut probably as low rs 60 cents
per bushel without duty. Unless the
present duty of 20 cents per bushel is
increased. the wheat of India will very
likely lie competing with our own
wheat in our home market. The
lands in India are as rich and fertile
rs in America, and there the farmer
can hire all the labor he requires ut
from 6 to 8 cents per day without
board. All labor-saving machinery of
this land can not make up for the
difference in the price of labor YOu
can hire $50 men for day on the
interest alone of the cost of your
reaper. When we are paying oyer
500. 600. 600 year for articles Of food
and live animals imported. it is time
to increase. and not to diminish, the
tariff. We must either lower our
wages to the European standard or
protect it. The wages we pay make
the difference between the condition
of our laboring people and those of
Europe.
The agricultural products of this
country, outside of tobacco and cot
ton. amount to 90. 600. 600. 600 per year.
of which 90 per cent. is consumed at
home and per cent. exported. The
Importance of the home market and
comparative insignificance of the for
eign market are thus apparent. The
home market depends upon the EN-
ployment of our people and the wages
they receive. In order to furnish en-
plOyment there must be diversity of
industrial pursuits. Labor produces
wealth, and wealth gives power. The
manufacturing industries of the cOun-
try employ 5000. 600 persons. to whom
81, 500. 100000 in wages is paid every
year, and the value of whose products
amounts to $1,000, 900. 900 annually.
The home market of the American
depends in no small degree on these
wage-earners. They are able to take
as much as they do Of the surplus prod
ucts of thief armer because Of their en-
ployment atgOod wages.
Only such articles as tea. coffee and
spices. not porduced in this country.
are increased in price by the tariff.
The tariff has not increased the price
of any of the commodities we make or
produce, but on the contrary. i'm
proved skill, machinery. and domestic
competition have reduced prices gen.
orally. Every thing of the kind is
cheaper to-day. under a protective
tariff. than in 1860 under tariff for
revenue only. Crockery ware is 81
per cent cheaper, cotton goods 20 per
cent. cheaper. wooden goods from 90 to
% per cent less. and silks from 81 to
40 per cent. less. The present system
of protection began in 1861. The man
ufacture of steel rails in the United
States commenced in 1867. England
was then charging us $50 per ton. In
1872 the price was s112 ton. and ut
the same time the duty was increased
to $2S ton. In 1874 the price went
down to 1914 % ton; in 1876 to $59 25.
Since then steel rails have sold as
low as SCI ton. or less than the |
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